PART 1
The island of Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world. In addition to the main island, some smaller surrounding islands also claimed by the republic, the island of Juan de Nova, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Island Tromelin Island, and Bassas da India. Although geographically close to Africa, the history of geology, biology, and different demographics Madagascar with the mainland continent.
Madagascar is inhabited by about 22 million people. Of that amount, according to the CIA Factbook, seven percent are Muslims. Another with the data from the Islamic Focus Newspaper that call, the number of Muslims in Madagascar reached 10 percent to 15 percent of the total population. While the PEW Research Center stated, there are about 215 thousand Muslims in the island.
Regardless of the accuracy of the number of Muslims in Madagascar, the existence of Islam in the former French colony that can not be doubted. The Muslim population mostly living in the western part of the island formerly known as the Malagasy Republic.
Most of them are immigrants from Yemen, Iran, Zanzibar, and other countries. About 50 thousand Muslim refugees from India, Comoros and Somalia, was living comfortably in the island area of 587 square kilometers. Not a few local residents who converted to Islam and joined them.
Although not the majority religion, Islam is growing rapidly in Madagascar. In the last ten years, the number of mosques has increased from just a matter of finger into dozens. Currently, at least 50 mosques and Islamic centers established throughout the country.
Muslims also have a restaurant that serves halal food. They also build clinics, schools, charities, to take part in economic and political sphere. Islamic Propagation are free to broadcast via television or national radio.
History records, Islam came to Madagascar via trade. Started around the 10th century or the 11th, many Arabs come and trade to the east coast of Africa. Slaves from Zanzibar are also many who work in the region.
However, the new Islam really touched Madagascar when Arab immigrants began settling in the area Majunga, the northwestern part of the island. Muslim Arab nation established trading posts along the coast in the northwest part of it. In medieval times, the kings of the island of Madagascar intensively interact with merchants from Arabic, Persian, and Somalia.
They are trafficking in goods from India and the Middle East.
These traders can enter easily because it brings understanding of equal rights between men, between women and men. In the French colonial period, the development of Islam is not halted. Post-independence in 1958, Madagascar chose to become secular by side with the Soviet Union. Nevertheless, all the religions in this beautiful island should continue to be developed.
Currently, Madagascar is closer to the former colonizer, France. In matters of religion, Christians are embraced by 41 percent of citizens, while the majority of the people of Madagascar (52 percent) adheres to traditional beliefs. What about Islam? God's religion is growing rapidly. Arab Muslim influence are found in the southeastern part of the island. Not a few local people are becoming interested in Islam, which is regarded as the religion of their ancestors.